The run into Miyazaki is exciting, to say the least. The seas are mountainous, the size of the waves only really brought home to us when we approach the Kyushu coast, and we come across a group of fishing boats. It seems as though they're weaving in and out of the hills. One second we can see them, the next, they're out of sight. The wind is still coming in hard from the north-east, which is no use for attempting to get to Choshi, so we make our way into the harbour at Miyazaki.

We tie up in the docks, and before we know it, we're chatting with our neighbour, whose large pleasure cruiser is tied up nearby. His English is not good, but we manage to understand each other. Maretoshi Iwamitsu is the president of the Iwamitsu Group of companies, a prominent local businessman, and aware of the Portsmouth / Miyazaki twinning links. Myazaki is one of the base cities for the World Cup, and we see plenty of flags for the German and Swedish teams. He invites us to join him for dinner in the evening.

The restaurant he takes us to is traditional Japanese, with a private room - we're joined by Maretoshi's wife, and his best friend and his wife. The fish starter doesn't prove too popular amongst the British contingent, but once finely sliced strips of pork and beef are sizzling away on the mini barbecue set into the middle of the table, things start going with a swing.

Maretoshi has two daughters studying in England, and when we get stuck during the conversation, he phones one of them up on his mobile to act as interpreter! We establish that Maretoshi is also a member of the "elite class of '53". All the Spirit of Cardiff crew were born in 1953. Then we found our good friend Choy in Singapore is also a member of the club. And now Maretoshi. A strange coincidence, without a doubt.

It transpires that Maretoshi owns the restaurant in which we're eating. When it's time to go, he produces a handful of keycards and presents one to each of us - he also owns Urban Kit, the hotel the restaurant is in. So we get to sleep in a bed that doesn't move for the first time in over a month. It's an odd sensation, but welcome none the less.

At the end of it all, we're still waiting anxiously for news from our weather man. When the depression that's been dogging us moves, we'll have south-westerlies to push us all the way to Choshi, now just 500 miles away. That's little more than a day in good conditions. We may get away tonight - we're going to have to be patient for just a little longer.

Clive Tully

Copyright Clive Tully ©2002
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